Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Audio Recording William A. Foley, Jr. Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 302nd Infantry Regiment, 94th Infantry Division, 3rd Army
- Location of Service:
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/3149
Eighteen-year-old infantry soldier William Foley had a talent for drawing, and he put it to good use while serving in the European Theater of the Second World War. Foley sketched scenes from memory or as they unfolded and managed to save most of his work. Some of his best work came from his experiences during the Battle of the Bulge, with its eerie landscapes and moments of intense combat. After the war, he became a professional artist, and his WWII work was published as part of his 2003 memoir, Visions From a Foxhole: A Rifleman in Patton's Ghost Corps. His video interview features Foley providing background commentary on much of his work.
Interview / Recording
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PlayInspiration for beginning to draw; fate of his buddy Dan 00:05:20.3 - 00:08:14.1
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PlayLosing his emotional reactions to death, pain, and destruction. 00:09:32.7 - 00:10:21.2
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PlayLeading a squad up a hill; exchanging grenades with the enemy; literally seeing red; killing a German officer who had just shot a soldier trying to surrender; taking the officer's possessions 00:14:13.3 - 00:15:43.7
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About this Item
Title
- William A. Foley, Jr. Collection
Names
- Foley Jr., William A.
- Zigo, Paul
- Brookdale Community College, Brookdale Center for World War II Studies
Home State
- Texas
Headings
- - Foley Jr., William A.
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- veteran
Service History
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World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 302nd Infantry Regiment, 94th Infantry Division, 3rd Army
- Location of Service:
- Military Status: veteran
- Service History Note: The veteran participated in the campaign to close the Rhine River after the Battle of the Bulge.
Materials
- Video: Digital Betacam [1 item] -- Digitized Copy (collected unknown)
- Audio: CD [1 item] -- Reading (collected 2003; 1994-12-31)
- Manuscript: Creative works [4 items] -- Handwritten document (collected unknown)
- Audio: CD [1 item] -- Reading (collected 2003; 1994-12-31)
- Audio: CD [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected unknown)
- Manuscript: Biographical information [1 item] -- (collected unknown)
- Video: VHS [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected unknown)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/3149
Cite as
- William A. Foley, Jr. Collection (AFC/2001/001/3149), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- video